Method of using a spring-loaded reciprocable stylet holder to eject a T-fastener

Abstract

A spring-loaded reciprocable stylet holder assembly includes a cap; a hollow body element partially nested within and reciprocable a major part of its length into the cap; a spring urging the body element outwardly of the cap; and a stylet supported at one end by the cap and extending through and beyond the body element. The remote end of the body element has a small borehole through which the stylet extends. The remote end is also provided with attachment means for a hypodermic needle with slotted tip for T-fastener emplacement, the needle telescopically surrounding the full length of the stylet. In a useful modification of the device an insufflation adapter having a side port for attachment of a hypodermic syringe is placed in line between the body element and the hypodermic needle. The stylet holder assembly with a slotted hypodermic needle attached thereto may be used for emplacing a T-fastener in a hollow organ of a person, such as the stomach.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of controllably holding and ejecting a T-fastener from a hypodermic needle tip during placement in a hollow organ of a patient comprising the steps of: (a) providing an assembly of a spring-loaded reciprocable stylet holder comprising:   a cap having a closed end and an open end and a longitudinal axis;   a hollow body element having a longitudinal axis and an open end portion partially nested within and reciprocable partially into the cap, and an opposite end that is substantially closed, having a borehole therethrough, the longitudinal axes of the cap and body element being coincidental;   a spring within the stylet holder assembly urging the body element outwardly of the cap;   a stylet supported at one end thereof by and within the cap and along the longitudinal axis thereof, the stylet slideably extending through and beyond a borehole in the substantially closed end of the body element along the longitudinal axis thereof;   the substantially closed end of the body element having means for attaching a hypodermic needle thereto so as to telescopically cover with the hypodermic needle the portion of the stylet extending beyond the substantially closed end of the body element; and   a hypodermic needle held by the attachment means with the stylet extending therethrough to adjacent the tip thereof, the needle being of the requisite gauge and length for insertion of a T-fastener within a hollow organ of a patient and having a slotted tip portion to slideably receive and hold a T-fastener;   (b) placing a T-fastener with an attached filament within the slot of the needle with the distal end of the stylet resting within the needle closely adjacent the T-fastener;   (c) inserting the needle into a hollow organ of the patient at a pre-selected site;   (d) sufficiently pressing down the cap of the stylet holder over the body element and against the urging of the spring within the stylet holder to move the stylet to eject the T-fastener from the tip of the needle; and   (e) releasing the cap to allow the spring to urge the cap, stylet and body element back in the opposite direction to the original position of each element.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (f) withdrawing the assembly of the stylet holder and the needle from the body of the patient.